Hrbaty opens up for Slovak Republic in Bratislava
Slovak No. 1 Dominik Hrbaty will take on Belgium's Kristof Vliegen in the opening rubber of the Davis Cup by by BNP Paribas World Group Play-off tie in Bratislava. The full draw is as follows:

Saturday’s doubles is slated to see Hrbaty and Mertinak taking on the Belgian pair of Gilles Elseneer and Dick Norman, though that could change based on tomorrow’s singles results.

Barring injury or other unforeseen considerations, the tie will conclude Sunday with the two reverse singles matches, featuring Hrbaty versus Rochus and then Mertinak versus Vliegen.

Rochus and Vliegen give Belgium the edge

The 28th-ranked Hrbaty has played Vliegen only once, winning in three sets indoors in Basle last autumn. He’s split two career match-ups with world No. 31 Rochus, including a comeback from two sets down in the Round of 16 at the 2004 US Open.

Both Belgians boast better match records this year than Hrbaty, who is 22-22 in 2006. The always-tough Rochus is 28-17 and Vliegen is enjoying the best season of his career, his 27-19 record helping him climb up the rankings from No. 93 at the start of the year to a career-high ranking at No. 34.

Mertinak of the Slovak Republic is the wild card this weekend, and will need to play well above his current No. 289 ranking to be competitive against the Belgians as Hrbaty’s sidekick. He’s replacing long-time Slovakian team member Karol Kucera, who retired after last year’s final against Croatia; and Karol Beck, who’s sidelined due to a doping suspension. Mertinak has a 0-1 life-time record against Vliegen and has not played Rochus previously.

Hoferlin anticipates close contest

After the order of singles play, which is drawn by lot, was established this morning in Bratislava, Belgian Captain Julien Hoferlin said, “It’s always tough to play second, better to play first. Olivier is a little disappointed because he wants to play first. We're ready to have a very tough weekend—we’ll have to play well [to win].”

Last September in Leuven, the Belgians lost a heartbreaker at home to the USA in another World Group Playoff tie, a dubious line call that went Andy Roddick’s way in the fifth set of his reverse singles match against Rochus changing the course of the match.

Hoferlin said, “It’s another year, it’s over now. It was a disappointment but the goal of the team is to get back into the World Group for next year.”

He points to Saturday’s doubles rubber as being key to the eventual outcome, hinting that he could change his line-up depending on the result of Friday’s singles rubbers. “I think the country that wins the doubles is going to win the tie,” he said.

Mecir targets World Group survival

Slovak Republic Captain Miloslav Mecir has been at the helm of his country’s Davis Cup squad ever since they started competing after establishing independence in 1994. Mecir anticipates an unpredictable weekend at the National Tennis Centre in Bratislava.

“You never can tell in advance and it’s usually very dramatic until the end with many dramatic moments. We’re looking forward to it.”

Mecir knows that keeping a spot in the World Group for 2007 isn’t guaranteed by any means. “I think the World Group is very tough,” he said. “The quality is very high and it’s no shame to be in the second group. The thing is we don’t have the players we had last year but we get on well together and we have a better chance playing at home.”